Now, he said he’s taking up Diaz trainer Cesar Gracie’s challenge for the contenders to meet at the UFC’s Super Bowl weekend show, which is expected to be UFC 156 on Feb. 2 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Diaz, though, isn’t technically eligible to return from a suspension and apply for a fight license until Feb. 4.

Following a title loss to champ Georges St-Pierre in late 2010, Koscheck won back-to-back fights over Matt Hughes (knockout) and Mike Pierce (split decision). However, earlier this year in a UFC on FOX 3 bout with Johny Hendricks, the perennial contender suffered a narrow split-decision defeat.

Diaz, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since a title-eliminator loss to Carlos Condit back in February. Diaz failed a post-fight drug test due to marijuana metabolites and, barring a change, can’t apply for a license until two days after the planned UFC 157 event.

UFC President Dana White, meanwhile, recently said Diaz is unlikely to get an immediate title shot and would first need a win upon his return.

“When Diaz gets off suspension, he’ll probably fight one of the top guys at 170 pounds,” White said Wednesday. “Then we’ll see what happens.”

A total of 26 fighters got their chance to shine on Saturday as part of UFC 190 at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. Now that UFC 190 is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

The man known for cranking submissions to the point of injury added eye-gouging to his repertoire. But is the controversy of Rousimar Palhares too essential to his bizarre, awful appeal for his employers to take any meaningful action against him?